ABUJA (Reuters) - Nigeria's anti-corruption watchdog has seized $9.8 million in cash from the former head of the state oil company, a spokesman said on Friday, as the government continues to battle endemic corruption.

Graft, particularly in the oil sector on which Nigeria relies, has taken large sums from the country's coffers.

President Muhammadu Buhari rode to victory in 2015 on an anti-corruption platform after widespread anger at the plundering of the state under his predecessor Goodluck Jonathan. But some have criticised the current administration's efforts as ineffective.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) raided a building belonging to the former head of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Andrew Yakubu, in Kaduna on Feb. 3, Friday's statement said.